7 Reasons Why Sleep Apnea Treatment is Important

Failing to get a good night’s rest is detrimental to a person’s overall health. One of the main contributors to this problem is a condition called sleep apnea, which over 22 million Americans suffer from. Sleep apnea doesn’t just affect sleep cycles, though. Your dentist says there are 7 other major health problems that can arise from this condition. As you read on, you’ll learn why receiving sleep apnea treatment is so vital to your health.

Sleep Apnea Explained

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes lapses in breathing throughout the sleep cycle. The most common form affecting Americans is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the tongue relaxes while you sleep and falls to the back of the mouth, which blocks the airway.

The pauses in your breathing trigger a distress signal to be sent to the nervous system that causes you to wake up. Because this happens frequently throughout the night for people suffering from sleep apnea, they are deprived of the normal benefits of a restful night.

7 Reasons for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Listed below are 7 reasons why it’s imperative to get treatment for your sleep apnea:

1. High Blood Pressure – Studies show that people who don’t get adequate sleep are more susceptible to developing high blood pressure (hypertension). If you already have this condition, then sleep apnea will make it worse.
2. Heart Disease – Sleep apnea also contributes to the development of heart disease and leaves you more vulnerable to cardiac arrest.
3. Type 2 Diabetes – Statistics show that of the people who have type 2 diabetes, 80% of them have OSA. Research is still being done to pinpoint the exact connection between the two conditions.
4. Weight Gain – Gaining weight may seem harmless, but it can actually contribute to health problems – one of them being OSA. A few extra pounds can cause the muscles in your neck and throat to collapse while you sleep and contribute to airway obstruction. Then, sleep apnea can make it more difficult to lose the weight.
5. Car Accidents – Untreated sleep apnea leads to daytime grogginess. Thus, if you’re behind the wheel of a car, you could be putting yourself and other drivers at risk of an accident.
6. Adult Asthma – While there is still more research to be done to identify the exact correlation between the two, there is evidence that sleep apnea encourages adult asthma.
7. Acid Reflux – Treating sleep apnea has resulted in a decrease in acid reflux among people who suffer from both conditions.

While much more data needs to be collected to make the final determinations about some of the above-mentioned related problems, you can’t go wrong getting the treatment you need for your sleep disorder.

Help is Available!

With the help of your dental sleep specialist, you can overcome this condition. You’ll receive sleep apnea therapy via a custom-made oral appliance that’s worn at night. The device shifts the jaw to keep your airway open and allows you to enjoy a quiet, comfortable and uninterrupted night of sleep.

It’s imperative to receive sleep apnea therapy because there are serious problems that can rear their heads otherwise. With the help of your dentist, you’ll soon be able to sleep correctly and improve your overall health.

About the Author

Dr. Robert Dernick earned his dental degree from the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston and has been providing care to residents of The Woodlands for nearly 40 years. He has devoted a great deal of time and energy to studying sleep disordered breathing (SDB) so he can help patients get the rest they need. Dr. Dernick treats sleep apnea at his private practice, and he can be reached for more information through his website.